Library Life

Pull into the parking garage for the downtown Central Library – the one with the cool collection of giant books on the exterior – and you might notice some changes. New gates. And a new system for entry. We’re here to help get you through.

The C-SPAN Cities Tour recently took Book TV and American History TV to Kansas City for a visit. During their time in Cowtown, they spent time with the Library to learn about the history of the Stockyards District and explore the years when local political boss Tom Pendergast was at the height of power. The KC-focused segments aired the weekend of December 2-3, 2017; videos are availble to view online.

On a chilly November evening at the Plaza Branch of the Kansas City Public Library, the sounds of Pomp and Circumstance filled the Truman Forum. The auditorium was filled with smiling audience members holding phones and cameras high. At least three video cameras were positioned in different parts of the room to capture the event. In the corner, a reporter and photographer from 41 Action News were ready to shoot video and get interviews. All eyes were on the women wearing caps and gowns on the stage. They were the first class of graduates through the unique Career Online High School program.

It’s one of the most important decisions we make when it comes to our kids: where they will go to school. In some cities and towns, it’s all about the neighborhood. In smaller communities, there might be a single school for all the kids to attend. Here in Kansas City, there are dozens of options for families and caregivers, and let’s face it, they can be overwhelming. That’s why Show Me KC Schools, the Office of the Mayor Sly James, and the Kansas City Public Library are co-sponsoring the City School Fair.

During a special five-day event in partnership with Brian Frehner, a tenured professor of science, technology, and society at University of Missouri–Kansas City, the Kansas City Public Library offers free classes and drop-in sessions to help you with your smartphone, technology repair, and even prepare you for a job interview.

The Kansas City Public Library, National World War I Museum and Memorial, and Kansas City Museum offered a unique glimpse into our city’s past by organizing a “history crawl” walking tour along a portion of the Main Street corridor downtown. The approximately two-mile tour, led by preservation consultant and architectural historian Cydney Millstein, began at the Central Library near 10th and Main, and wrapped up at the Liberty Memorial at the National World War I Museum.

Everyone from our frontline librarians to Director Crosby Kemper III takes pride in the often cutting-edge services offered by the Library, in our efforts to help chart a course for 21st-century libraries nationwide.

The Kansas City Public Library is considering a new program to enhance and extend the benefits of having a library card and would like to determine the level of public interest in this type of program.

The 2017 Veterans Writing Workshop is designed to help veterans and their families develop the writing and narrative skills that can empower them to tell their stories, whether they be true-life accounts or wholly original tales. The workshop is free and open to past or present military members and family members of veterans. Each of the four-hour sessions is conducted by professional writers and educators; they provide the same high level of instruction as a college or university writing course.

The Library can be a valuable resource for artists as they develop their projects. For instance, a handful of this year's Art in the Loop creators used the services of the Missouri Valley Special Collections to conduct research.

September is Library Card Sign-up Month, and the Kansas City Public Library is celebrating and hopefully inspiring by having staff rifle through their wallets and closets to find the earliest library cards they own.